This workshop is a non-instructed paint-out. We are going back to this marvelous part of Italy and offering once again this exciting plein air painting program that will combine the unique Sicilian land-views and seascapes. Our guests will stay in splendid Taormina, a lovely jewel facing smoldering Mount Etna and the Ionian Sea of Homer and the Cyclops. We will dine on wonderful traditional Sicilian cuisine and come to understand why it is said “Without Sicily, Italy cannot be fully understood. It is here one finds the key to all things”. (J.W. Goethe)

7 day land and seascape painting paint-out. Intermediate to advanced painters only. Daily Breakfast at the hotel, most Lunches or Dinners provided as noted; otherwise on your own to enjoy all the fabulous restaurants in Taormina. Painting in Taormina and Giardini Naxos on the sea and other selected sites. Optional day off to sightsee: (cost is on your own and arranged through a public touring company) or stay in Taormina to paint.

Faculty Information:
As a full-time professional artist, Sam D’Ambruoso brings over 20 years of experience to these workshops. He has been concentrating on landscapes and portraits since 1972. His nationally acclaimed artists’ workshops in Tuscany and Amalfi, and Sicily, Italy continue to grow in popularity.

Graduating from Providence College, he studied at the Paier School of Art, Hamden, CT under Joseph Funaro and at Lyme Academy of Art under Dan Gheno. He also studied with internationally renowned landscape painter, Thomas Beuchner of Elmira, New York and also at the Scottsdale Artist School with Skip Whitcomb of Fort Collins, Colorado.

A significant influence in landscape painting for Sam was at the Plein Air Painter’s of America Workshop in Old Lyme, CT where he studied with Matt Smith and Kevin McPherson. After teaching art in area colleges, he has developed a 8-week program of instruction in landscape painting as well as portraiture as well as offering private art lessons to selected beginners in oil painting. He is an Elected Artist at the Kent Art Association, Kent, CT.

Current painting projects include original paintings of New England and Tuscany, Italy as well as selected landscape and portrait commissions.
Mary Ann D'Ambruoso is the Workshop Coordinator. Since 1997, Sam and Mary Ann have hosted International Art Workshops concentrating on Italy and New England. In 2006 a new program was added which presents travel opportunities focused on Italian Culture and Cuisine. She began her hospitality career in 1979 and took her culinary training in NY City at the Professional Culinary Arts Center, the New School for Social Research.

Other Activities:
The workshop includes:
- 7 nights, 8 days at Villa Schuler in Taormina with private gardens and panoramic views, all rooms have private baths
- Daily breakfast at the hotel, 5 lunches, 4 dinners provided in our selected restaurant
- 6 1/2 days Plein air painting, work in oil, watercolor or pastels, all levels, this is non-instructed
- Painting in Taormina, Giardini Naxos on the sea and other selected sites
- Open day for your own pursuits
- Transportation to/from airport and hotel included.

Facility Information:
Ancient theaters, temples, mountains and sea, we are very pleased to be in Sicily for the 2nd year. We'll paint en plein air in lovely formal gardens and at the seashore, then sketch among the ruins of a Greco-Roman Theater - all providing wonderful opportunities to experience this intriguing Island. Our hotel is a perfect 3-star, all rooms with private bath and all recently updated. We have stayed there before this workshop and will continue to do so while in Sicily.

With over 20 years’ experience as a full-time artist, Sam concentrates his efforts to landscape painting and portrait commissions. His widely-acclaimed artists' workshops in Tuscany, Amalfi and Sicily Italy and the U.S. continues to grow in popularity. He now has over 50% of prior workshop participants joining...